What is it about?
This article explains some of the ethical challenges that mental health professionals face when they practice in medical settings. Psychologists working in medical settings must have a strong grasp of the medical conditions and treatments their patients live with. They must also work as a team with other health care professionals to assure optimal care for their patients. Example: This may require psychologists to share more information from patient's sessions with other health care providers than might otherwise be the case.
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Why is it important?
Practicing in a medical setting is very different from doing psychotherapy in a private office or community clinic. Example: In community practice a psychologist might never interact directly with their patient's medical care providers, but in medical settings sharing information and collaborative practice are essential.
Perspectives
The close collaborative practice usually yields a better patient outcome, but both psychologists and their patients need to understand potential ethical complications. Example: A patient tells their psychologist how much they dislike a medical provider. The psychologist may have a sensitive response to assisting the patient, while not compromising the patient's care by the disliked colleague.
Dr. Gerald P. Koocher
Harvard Medical School
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Strategies for ethical practice in medical settings., Practice Innovations, March 2018, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pri0000062.
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